Winter Break Recipe Roundup

Winter break is around the corner and holidays + family means lots of food. While it's nice to eat out when the family is all together it can get expensive. So here are the links to a few of my favorite belly warming recipes to help get you through. Some of them are super indulgent for special occasions, others are more savory favorites that are perfect for every day. Enjoy!

Breakfast: 

The Pioneer Woman's Best Coffee Cake. Ever.

Mel's Kitchen Cafe Vanilla Pudding Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting

Robert Irvine's French Toast Recipe

Paula Deen's Spinach and Bacon Quiche
This one is good for during the week. You can make ahead and then heat up a slice for the kiddos in the morning.  It is fantastic on it's own but we like it with a few modifications.
    -Skip the bacon
    -Add half an onion
    -Substitute crumbled goat cheese for the Swiss.
 Place pie crust in pan and put down the layer of goat cheese. Everything else, combine in a food processor and pour over. This makes it a bit more kid friendly.

Lunch and Dinner:

Homemade Pizza, No full recipe for this one, it's a pick a choose.
 -we use this dough
 -we use this sauce (skipping the honey and anchovy paste)
 -and we top with fresh mozzerella and veggies.  
 
No. 2 Pencil's Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs
To complete the meal, add a salad and some of these fantastic sweet potato fries. Yum!

Food Network's Almost-Famous Barbecue Chicken Pizza

Slender Kitchen's Simple Crock Pot Pinto Beans
Pair with your favorite cornbread and a salad and you're gold.

Meatball Nirvana Recipe
We skip the red pepper flakes and use Pecorino Romano in place of the Parmesan. Delicious! Add them to spaghetti with this marinara and you'll have a hit!

Chicken Pot Pie IX Recipe
Double the sauce or add a can of cream of chicken. It's a winner.

These are just a few of my favorite everybody's-home recipes. Enjoy!

Mint Chocolate Pizzelles

Since we are smack in the middle of the holiday season I've started making pizzelles. They have officially become our go-to holiday treat for four reasons.
1. They are delicious.
2. They are cheap
3. They easy to make.
4. They cook fast.
If you've never had or made them, pizzelles are a thin, crispy cookie made kind of like a waffle but on a pizzelle iron. Anyway, our family is hooked. The cookies themselves are mildly sweet and perfect for pairing with tea or coffee. We usually go for the plain ones but this year I wanted to make something especially with my husband in mind. He's a mint chocolate chip fan. Ice cream, cake, whatever. He loves it. So I decided to see if I could figure out how to make a mint chocolate pizzelle. Well I did figure it out. And it's really yummy. The taste kind of reminds me of a thin mint. I'm sure that if you dipped one edge of these in chocolate it would be heaven. But for now, here is my Mint Chocolate Pizzelle recipe. Depending on how large you make them it makes around 24 cookies.

Mint Chocolate Pizzelles

Ingredients:

 3 eggs

 1 cup white sugar

 3/4 of a stick (or 1/4 cup and 2 tablespoons) melted butter

 1 tablespoon mint extract (If you want it more seasonal, use peppermint extract)

 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

 1/4 cup cocoa powder

 2 teaspoons baking powder

Have iron heating while mixing the pizzelles. Once it is ready, make sure to spray with cooking spray  or brush with oil. You may have to reapply a few times as you cook. In large bowl, beat eggs and sugar together until smooth. Mix in butter and mint extract. In separate bowl whisk or sift together flour, cocoa powder and baking powder. Combine flour and egg mixtures. Beat together until smooth. Use a piping bag and place desired amount onto pizzelle iron. Cook for 20-30 seconds. Let cool and enjoy!!!